Looking for Madrid’s first cultural ambassador: Mick Jagger mentioned no, Tim Burton mentioned sure | Tradition

Tim Burton has by no means made a movie about Madrid. He doesn’t personal a house there, and has by no means even lived in Spain. But, in September of this yr, Madrid’s mayor, José Luis Martínez-Almeida, will appoint him as the town’s ambassador.

The 63-year-old American director will go to the Spanish capital to obtain the award and current an interactive exhibition of his movies. However controversy awaits the eccentric artist: a number of Madrid historians and journalists have already voiced complaints in regards to the selection.

“They requested us for a report back to assess who needs to be given [the ambassadorship], when it seems that that they had already decided the winner,” mentioned one of many 10 historians and journalists on a workforce referred to as Cronistas de la Villa de Madrid, whose job it’s to conduct analysis and educate in regards to the metropolis’s historical past, in a telephone dialog with EL PAÍS. “I like his movies, however why ought to he be Madrid’s ambassador? What has he completed for the town?”

Till this so-called ambassadorship, the laws for awarding honorary distinctions had hardly modified because the Nineteen Sixties. A very powerful title in Madrid is that of Favourite Son, which may solely be given to those that have been born within the capital and who, “attributable to their excellent private qualities or deserves,” have contributed to the “enchancment” and “honor” of Madrid. The final particular person to obtain this title was the author Almudena Grandes. There’s additionally the title of Adoptive Son, which will be granted to those that, with out being born in Madrid, additionally meet the aforementioned standards. Some notable winners embody the novelist Mario Vargas Llosa, tennis star Rafael Nadal and director Pedro Almodóvar. Each titles will be awarded posthumously.

The town additionally grants the Madrid Medals. And now, in fact, there may be the newest title: Ambassador of Madrid. However why one other prize? “Publicity” stands out as the reply to that query.

Throughout her marketing campaign, Metropolis Councilor Andrea Levy – who leads the Tradition, Tourism and Sports activities Division – promised to capitalize on the massive variety of artists who cross by the Spanish capital through the use of them to spice up Madrid’s worldwide profile as a vacationer vacation spot.

The primary title thought of by the Cultural committee was that of Mick Jagger. The lead vocalist for The Rolling Stones visited Madrid in June to open his newest worldwide tour. What higher technique to capitalize on the go to of the world’s most legendary rock group than with the supply of this award at Metropolis Corridor? However Jagger, based on unnamed sources, rejected it.

“His individuals instructed us no, that he was very afraid of the coronavirus and wished to keep away from any indoor occasions with many individuals.” The singer did, nevertheless, take walks round Madrid. On his social media, he posted about visiting Picasso’s well-known portray Guernica within the Reina Sofia Museum and the statue of the Fallen Angel in El Retiro Park.

After Jagger turned down their provide, the Cultural workforce started to audit Madrid’s cultural calendar. Which different world artist had deliberate a terrific act within the metropolis? “September was good,” mentioned a supply concerned within the decision-making course of, “as a result of we had Tim Burton’s go to lined up.” Burton, in contrast to Jagger, agreed instantly.

Upon studying of this new prize, the opposition events on the town council have been very crucial. “All of us… admire the work of this filmmaker,” mentioned the Socialist Celebration (PSOE) spokesperson, Mar Espinar, “however there are greater than cheap doubts relating to the director’s connection to the town of Madrid. The PP (the center-right Widespread Celebration, Madrid’s ruling get together) has to just accept that it can’t do no matter it desires.” The identical opinion was voiced by the progressive Extra Madrid get together. “This was botched from the start to the top,” mentioned Councilor Pilar Perea. “Burton has no reference to this metropolis.”

After the controversy, the Cultural committee requested the ten native cronistas for his or her ideas on the brand new award. EL PAÍS has realized that almost all expressed their opposition. Everybody believes that Burton is a superb filmmaker, however as as to whether he deserves to be Madrid’s ambassador, most agree that “he has completed little or no or nearly nothing” for the town. This opinion, nevertheless, just isn’t binding – particularly because the choice has already been made.

Upon receiving these opinions, the Tradition committee has now toned down its response. “We now have made a communication error,” admitted a spokeswoman. “We are going to apologize to the historians and the opposition. We are going to attempt to extra clearly clarify what the prize entails. We would like Madrid to have extra worldwide visibility. That’s the sole goal.”

Burton will arrive in Madrid in September. The director, nevertheless, just isn’t identified for being a lover of promotional excursions. In an interview with this newspaper in 2010, he gave the next solutions throughout a London occasion:

EP: “Shouldn’t you be a bit of extra used to this media circus of promotions and interviews?”

TM: “No, I’m not used to it. I don’t normally learn critiques or watch my films once more. I don’t just like the craziness that’s revealed about me in any respect. A German journalist as soon as wrote that Helena (Burton’s then-wife) and I lived in two separate homes related through a tunnel. It’s loopy.”

EP: However you guys reside in separate homes, proper?”

TM: Sure, by a tunnel.

The couple broke up in 2014.